Lighting fixture



LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Aug. 31, 1942 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 so sm'rssPAT s u. 1" OFFICE LiGHJI-INGFDCTURE Peter W. Sprecher, Milwaukee, Wis.

Applicatienhugnst 31, 194-2., Serial. No. 456,338

*7 Claims.

The invention relates to lighting fixtm'es and though not limitedthereto is particularly adapted to lighting fixtures for tubularelectric lamps, such as fluorescent electric tubes.

Fixtures for suchvtubes are usually provided with an elongatedreflecting surface or surfaces, extending parallel 'to themajor axis-ofthe tube and adapted to reflect the light from the tube to form adiverging light flux, the cross sectional angle of must be adapted tothe requirementsof the space to be illmmnated. In order to fit the needsof various locations it has hereto fore been necessary to providedifferent "fixtunes for the diiieren t angles required.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a fixture fortubular lamps and the like reflecting surfaces comprising a number ofciernents which can- "be readily adjusted so as to provide beams oflight of different angular spread.

Another object of the invaition is to provide a fixture which is simplein manufacture and assembly;

Another object is to provide a fixture which is composed of a minimumnumber of parts.

Another object is to provide a fixture which does not require any screwsor other separate fastening means, except for the means by which thesockets for receiving the tubes "are attached to the fixture.

Another object "is to provide a fixture which is readily adjusted toprovide a light flux of different angular spread.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

The invention provides a lighting fixture comprising a minimum number ofconstituent elements which can readily be assembled in various positionsrelative to each other to afford different distributions of the lightfrom a lamp mounted on the fixture.

The invention further provides a lighting fixture comprising anelongated base and an elongated main reflector substantially coextensivewith the base, the base and the main reflector havingintegralinterengaging fastening and looking means to position themrelativeto each other, and interchangeable side reflectors provided witha plurality of integral means for facile at.- tachment in alternateangular positions on the main reflector and the base.

The invention still further provides for integral 'interengaging meanson the base. the main reflector and the outer reflectors by means ofwhich the parts can be readily assembled and disassembled. The mainreflector and the side reflectors constituting the only elements of'thecomplete light fixture except. for the -'conventional lam-psockets.

The accompanying drawing is illustrative of several embodiments of theinvention. In the drawing: 1

Fig.1 is a cross sectional view of a fixture embodying the invention,but with certain parts omitted.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section along thelines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 31s a side view of a complementary part of the fixture shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section of a complete fixture, differing in certain detailsfrom the fixture shown in Figs. 1 and '2.

Fig. '5 is adetail of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a modification of certain details of Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the same illustrates a fixturesuitable for the reception of two tubular lamps arranged parallel witheach other. The fixture comprises an elongated base f formed of sheetmetal The base 1 is provided along its longitudinal margins with areverse bend forming lugs. or flanges, 2', 3, wherein the outer bendforms. a channel 4, the purpose of which will be explained hereafter.The inner bend 3 formsan acute angle. with the main body of the base.Besides. providing for the groove 4, the double bend affords greatrigidity to the base i. The base -I may be attached to the coiling. orother supporting structure in any conventional way, such .as. by screwsindicated at 5.

The base. I' cooperates an inner or main reflecting plate ii, thepresent 'caseconsists of a resilient sheet of metal, provided-0n its.under side with a. polished or painted reflecting. surface. The plate Ais bent transversely so as to-present. tothe lampsa reflecting surfacewhichafiords the desired light distribution. Inthe present case theplate. 6 bent to form a V as indicatedat 1, intermediate ot the lamps 8,followed on each side of the -v by a horizontal section a, and, this isfollowed by an upwardly inclined-section it. Near :itslongitudinal edgesthe inner reflector plate is preferably folded upon itself as at H. Theslope of the section lil near the bend [-1- correspondsto the slope. ofthe reverse bend 2, 3, of. the *base plate- L,

As the reflector 6 somewhat resilient the two longitudinal edges can bepressed towards each other so that the reflector can be sprung into therecesses formed. by the reverse bend 2, 3, of

the base plate I, to thereby lock the two parts securely together. Theparts I and 6 are further locked together by bending over the ends ofthe base plate I, to form vertically depending sections or walls I2.These end walls are preferably reduced in width towards their lowest eX-tremity in order to increase their resiliency. Near their lower edgesthe end walls I2 may be folded upon themselves to form a groove I3,which groove engages a slot I4 in the apex of the V I, when thereflector plate 6 is sprung into place. To release the reflector it isonly necessary to depress the ridge of the V, so that the edge of thegroove I3 is free to pass the apex of the V and thereafter bend the wallI2 a sufficient distance outwardly so that the ends of the reflector 6can pass the groove I3. The resiliency of the material of the end wallsI 2, is sufficient that they will assume their original shape orposition after the outward pull is released. In the structure shown theparts I and 6 are securely locked with each other both longitudinallyand transversely and such locking is accomplished without any additionalseparate elements. The two parts can be assembled and disassembledwithout use of any tools. The parts I and 6 when assembled form a hollowconduit in which the conventional resistors or other regulating devicesfor the lamp circuits, as well as the supply wires, can be mounted.

The lamps 8 are supported from conventional sockets I5, one at each end.These sockets are fastened to the reflector 6 by means of screws in theusual manner.

In order to complete the reflecting surfaces for the lamps, two side orouter reflectors I6 are provided, one on each side of the base I, asshown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6. Each side reflector consists of a metalstrip substantially coextensive longitudinally with the base I, and thereflector 6. Each side reflector has its longitudinal edges bent at anangle to the main body as shown at I! and I8. The two bends are in thesame direction so that the cross section of the deflector I6 is in theform of a Z, the two bends forming different angles for the purposewhich will hereafter be explained. Both sides of the reflectors I6 areprovided with a polished or painted reflecting surface. The sidereflectors are fastened to the base plate I by inserting either theflange I! or I8 into the groove 4, Where it is securely held byfrictional engagement.

As shown to the left of the center line of Fig. 4, if the sidereflectors I6 are assembled to the base I with the flange I8 having themost acute angle, the angle between the side reflector and the verticalplane through the lamp I is relatively small. Therefore as shown by thelines o, c", and d, d", substantially all of the light reflected by saidreflector is in a direction towards the central longitudinal plane ofthe fixture. On the other hand, if, as shown on the right hand side ofFig. 4, the side reflector I6 is attached to the groove 4 by means ofthe flange II which has the larger angle, the angle between thereflecting surfaces of the reflector I6, opposite the lamp 8, and thecentral vertical plane of the fixture is greater so that the lightreflected by said reflector I6 is dispersed further away from thecentral plane as shown by the arrows e, e, and f, f. It will further beseen that with the arrangement shown at the left of Fig. 4 the lightwhich is radiated directly from the lamps to the surrounding areas isenclosed by the angle a, while with the arrangement shown at the rightof Fig. 4, a much greater volume of the light is directly radiated bythe lamps to the surrounding areas, as indicated by the larger angle 17.Thus it will be apparent that the invention permits the adaptation ofthe fixture for various degrees of concentration of the light radiatedfrom the lamps and for distributing the light either symmetrically orasymmetrically relative to the vertical central plane of the fixture.With the arrangement shown and described it is thus possible to obtainwith the same fixture different degrees of distribution of the light. Itwould of course be possible to supply additional side reflectors withbends I1 and I8 affording different angles to still further increase theflexibility of the fixture.

The locking arrangement comprising the channel I3 and the slot I I ofFigs. 1 and 2 may be replaced by a slightly different arrangement asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this case each end of the strip 6 is providedwith a short tongue I9, which extends beyond the main body of the stripand which may be integral therewith. The end wall I2 of the fixture isprovided with an aperture 29 to receive said tongue. It is obvious thatby bending the walls I2 outwardly, the tongue I9 may be released fromthe aperture 29 to the strip 6 from the base I.

Fig. 6 shows a still further modification of the structure heretoforedescribed. In this case the double bend of the longitudinal edges of thebase plate I is at right angle with the base as shown at 2I. Similarlythe longitudinal margin of the strip I3 is bent at right angle to itsmajor transverse dimension as shown at 22, so that the strip 6 need notbe sprung transversely to slide into the base I, reliance being hadentirely on the lock between the end walls 12 and the strip 6, as shownin Figs. 2 and 5. The base I is sufllciently stiff longitudinally byvirtue of the double bend 2|, and the strip 5 is of sufficientlongitudinal stiffness by virtue of its great depth.

Fig. 6 shows a still further modification wherein the lamp bases I5 aremounted on the base I of the fixture instead of being mounted on thestrip 6. This in some cases may be more convenient.

While thefixture shown and described is arranged for two parallel lampsit is obvious that the same plan of construction and assembly may beemployed for a fixture containing a single lamp or more than two lampsmounted in parallel with each other. Other modifications coming withinthe scope of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising, an elongated baseplate having an integral flange depending from each longitudinal side, areverse bend on each flange to form an open channel parallel with themajor axis of said base, an integral depending portionat each end ofsaid base plate with a retaining ledge near its lower edge, a mainreflector plate longitudinally coextensive with said base provided withreflecting surfaces at an angle transversely to said base plate andhaving its longitudinal edges formed to engage said longitudinal flangesto locate said plates relative to each other, an abutment at each end ofsaid reflector plate arranged to cooperate with said retaining ledge,lamp sockets arranged to support a tubular lamp in parallel alinementwith said reflecting surfaces,

and elongated outer sheet reflectors adapted to be mounted on said baseplate to cooperate with said main reflector in reflecting light from alamp mounted in said sockets, each outer reflector being provided at itstwo longitudinal margins with integral flanges extending from said sheetat different angles respectively, said flanges being adapted to beinserted selectively into said channels to be frictionally retainedthereby.

2. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising a base plateattachable to a support, an inner reflecting plate having a reflectingsurface and attached to said base plate in spacial relation thereto andprojecting therefrom at an angle, interengageable means formed integralwith the longitudinal edges of the respective plates to position andhold them together and having a recess, lamp sockets arranged to supporta tubular lamp in parallel alignment with said reflecting surface, andan interchangeable outer reflecting plate having at each of its twolongitudinal edges a lug for selectively entering said recess andattaching said outer reflecting plate in different angular positionsselectively, to coact with said inner reflecting plate in reflectinglight from a lamp supported by said sockets.

3. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising, an elongated baseplate attachable to a support, an inner reflecting plate substantiallycoextensive with said base plate having a reflecting surface andattached to said base plate in spacial relation thereto and projectingtherefrom at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis of saidplates, interengageable means formed integral with the longitudinaledges of the respective plates to position and hold them together, andhaving a recess parallel with their major axis, lamp sockets arranged tosupport a tubular lamp in parallel alinement with said reflectingsurface, and an interchangeable outer reflecting plate having at eachlongitudinal edge a flange, said flanges depending at different anglesand adapted to selectively enter said recess and frictionally attachingsaid outer reflecting plate in position to coact with said innerreflecting plate in reflecting light from a lamp supported by saidsockets.

4. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising, an elongated baseplate attachable to a support having an integral longitudinal flangedepending on each side, an inner reflecting plate having a reflectingsurface, adapted to engage said flanges for attachment to said baseplate in spacial relation thereto and projecting therefrom at atransverse angle, each of said flanges having a reverse bend to form anopen channel parallel with the major axis of said base plate, lampsockets arranged to support a tubular lamp in parallel alinement withsaid reflecting surface, and an interchangeable outer reflecting platehaving a flange at each of its longitudinal edges, said flangesdepending at different angles and adapted to selectively enter saidchannel and frictionally attaching said outer reflecting plate inposition to coact with said inner reflecting plate in reflecting lightfrom a lamp supported by said sockets.

5. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising a base plateattachable to a support, an

inner reflecting plate having a reflecting surface and attached to saidbase plate in spacial relation thereto: and projecting therefrom at anangle, interengageable means formed integral with the respective platesto position and hold them together, and having a recess, lamp socketsarranged to support a lamp in parallel alinement with said reflectingsurface, and an interchangeable elongated outer reflecting plate havingat each of its longitudinal edges an integral flange, said flangesextending from said outer reflecting plate at different angles and beingadapted to enter said recess selectively and frictionally retaining saidouter reflecting plate in selected angular positions relative to saidbase plate to coact with said inner reflecting plate in reflecting lightfrom a lamp supported by said sockets.

6. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising, an elongated base inthe form of a sheet and having integral depending flanges on all sides,each longitudinal flange provided with a reverse bend to form an openchannel parallel with the major axis of said base and each end flangeprovided with a retaining ledge near its lower edge, a main reflectorcomprising a sheet longitudinally coextensive with said base and benttransversely to provide reflecting surfaces for a lamp mounted beneathit and having its longitudinal edges arranged to engage said flanges andits ends provided with abutments adapted to cooperate with saidretaining ledges respectively, lamp sockets arranged to support atubular lamp in parallel alinement with said main reflector, and aninterchangeable side reflector arranged upon each side of said base andhaving at each of its longitudinal edges a flange, said flangesextending from said outer reflecting plate at different angles and beingadapted to engage the respective channel to position said sidereflectors on said base plate to cooperate with said central reflectorto reflect light from a lamp supported by said sockets.

'I. A lighting fixture for tubular lamps comprising, an elongated basein the form of a metal sheet bent to provide integral depending flangeson all sides, the longitudinal flanges each being provided with areverse bend to form an open channel parallel with the major axis ofsaid base and the transverse flanges each being provided with aretaining ledge near its lower edge, a main reflector comprising a metalsheet longitudinally coextensive with said base, said reflector beingbent transversely and provided with a reflecting surface to reflectlight from a lamp mounted beneath it and having its longitudinal edgesformed to engage said flanges and its ends provided with abutmentsadapted to cooperate with said retaining ledges respectively, lampsockets arranged to support a tubular lamp in parallel alinement withsaid reflector, and an interchangeable sheet metal outer reflectingplate provided-with reflecting surfaces on both sides and bent at itstwo longitudinal sides to provide flanges extending from said outerreflecting plate at different angles respectively and adapted to beinserted selectively into said channels to be frictionally retainedthereby.

PETER W. SPRECHER.

